Rock Hyrax
Procavia Capensis
Classification
- Every animal in the world is part of the kingdom animalia. They have to be multicellular to be an animal.
- Animals in the phylum chordata have bilateral symmetry and a rod going down the center of their body called notochords. They also have a body in segments.
- The rock hyrax like many other animals is a vertabrate which means it contains bones.
- Animals in the class mammalia will grow hair at least for one time in their life
- Animals in the order hyracoidea are known as hyraxes. They are rabbit sized.
- Rock hyraxes are in the family Procavia.
- Rock Hyraxes are in the Genus Procavia.
- Rock Hyraxes are in the species Capensis.
- animals are in the domain Eukarya which means they are eukaryotic and multicellular
This is a picture of a Rock Hyrax in its natural habitat.
This is a Rock Hyrax eating its main food source; grass.
This is a map of where you can find Rock Hyraxes.
General Description
- Rock hyraxes stay the same color their whole entire lives. It is sort of a creamy brownish color.
- The length of a rock hyrax adult is 12 to 21 inches.
- Rock hyrax's weigh from 8 lbs to 9.5 lbs.
- Rock hyraxes are found from Madagascar to Africa.
- Rock hyraxes are mainly found in hot dry places such as savannas and deserts. They live in a place where it is very easy to find a food source.
- Rock hyraxes are mainly predated by leopards, snakes, and large enough birds to pick it up.
- Rock hyraxes are mainly plant eaters and eat grass and and fruits and vegies.
Physical Adaptations
- The Rock hyraxes have very interesting toes that help them survive. They have 4 functional toes which helps it move smoothly and quickly to escape predators. One toe is stuck in one spot like a stump. There is a toe with a claw that curves inward and all other toes have a hoofed nail which helps it make secret burrows under ground.
- They have a brown and yellow color which helps it blend in with its surroundings because it usually lives on brown rocky areas.
- They have moist black pads on the bottom of their feet which helps them step on hot areas where predators cannot.
- Rock hyraxes have a larynx but the males have a bigger one than females so that makes their territorial calls louder than the females.
Behavioral Adaptations
- Hyraxes will take guard at night to protect their colonies from predators.
- They join a colony with around 80 hyraxes so they can have good protection from predators.
- Males head the colonies because males are relatively larger and will scare off predators better than females for their colony.
- They don't usually dig burrows for themselves they find existing ones that were built by meerkats so it saves them energy.